Ambition in His Heart, the Vast Sky in His Grasp

Ambition in His Heart, the Vast Sky in His Grasp

When Han Shu made his move, the boys' and girls' gazes instantly converged on him. Knowing there was a show to watch, several of them revealed eager, excited expressions.

Han Shu walked over to Chen Chuan's table and greeted him with a smile. "Chen Chuan, long time no see. Haven't heard anything about you lately. What have you been busy with?"

Ding Jiao clicked his tongue.

Chen Chuan remained perfectly natural. "What else? I graduated. I had to find somewhere to go."

Han Shu gave an oh and looked him over, testingly asking, "I wonder whether you're planning to stay in Yangzhi City, or..."

"I'm staying in Yangzhi City," Chen Chuan said.

Han Shu feigned surprise. "With your grades, you're not going to a higher institution? You should try applying elsewhere. Look at me—I didn't score as well as you, so I could only stay in Yangzhi City."

Ding Jiao could not stand the way he was acting and spoke up directly. "Give it a rest, Han Lao San. Everyone knows you got into Mo Lan Company. What are you showing off for?"

"I did want to apply elsewhere," Chen Chuan said. "But I don't have that much money. Even if someone were willing to sponsor me, I'd still need a recommender. Besides, Central City isn't such an easy place to live in."

"Yeah, yeah." His words immediately struck a chord with the other students in the class.

Strictly speaking, anyone who could attend the city's No. 1 High School came from families that were neither poor nor especially wealthy. Yet studying in Central City was still nothing more than a distant dream.

After the Algae Liquid Revolution, enormous Central Cities had been established across the world. They were gathering places for major corporations and mega-corporations, where biotechnology far surpassed that of the surrounding cities. They were fundamentally a different world from the outside. Without an introduction from someone with sufficient social standing, let alone studying there, it was impossible even to gain a foothold.

Take the three students in their class who had received recommendation slots this time. In order to ensure the enrollment rate for Central City, No. 1 High School actually needed students like them more. To put it bluntly, without a certain family background and social status, getting a slot was useless. No one there would accept you.

Han Shu noticed the advertisement flyer by Chen Chuan's hand and said in surprise, "What's this?" He snatched it up and looked it over. Excitement at seeing through something flashed across his face. Waving the flyer, he said, "Chen Chuan, don't tell me you're planning to learn boxing?"

Chen Chuan did not deny it. He smiled at him. "Learning boxing is pretty good."

"You really are going to learn boxing?" Han Shu's eyes lit up, and he could not help laughing. "A boxing gym? Becoming a fighter? You really do... have ideas. Heh heh."

The students all looked at Chen Chuan strangely upon hearing this.

Across the country, learning boxing at a boxing gym was indeed one way out for people at the bottom of society. But most No. 1 High School students did not see it that way.

According to what their parents' generation had taught them, people who came out of boxing gyms were all street punks. Nine out of ten would join gangs and engage in illegal activities. The lucky ones fought in the ring and ended up covered in injuries and ailments when they got old. Some became action actors, but most merely played bit parts or served as stunt doubles. The money was not bad, but the disability rate was high, and almost none of them ever made it big.

In their eyes, that was equivalent to the bottom rung of society. Chen Chuan usually had such good grades, so they found his choice utterly incomprehensible.

Ding Jiao immediately grew anxious. He slammed his fist on the table and stood up. "Han Lao San, what are you talking about? Chen Chuan's Uncle is a captain at the Patrol Bureau. If he goes anywhere, it'll be the Patrol Bureau. Why would he go to a place like a boxing gym? Right, Chen Chuan?"

Han Shu gave an oh, pretending not to understand. "I remember Chen Chuan has a Younger Male Cousin, right? Chen Chuan, are you planning to compete with your Younger Male Cousin for the succession slot? That doesn't seem very appropriate, does it?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? You..." Ding Jiao became agitated and looked ready to curse. Seeing this, Chen Chuan immediately held him back. He stood as well, looked at Han Shu, and said slowly, "Learning boxing is what I like. Is there something wrong with a person doing what they like, when it doesn't inconvenience anyone else?"

Han Shu felt uncomfortable under his calm gaze. He also realized that Chen Chuan had grown much taller; he was nearly a head shorter now. Feeling a little intimidated, he took a step back, though his words remained snide. "Nothing wrong with it. It suits you quite well. Then I wish you success."

Chen Chuan gave a grunt. "I'll take that as a good omen."

Han Shu thought he was merely putting on a brave front. He snorted and left under Ding Jiao's furious glare.

"Brother Han, over here." After only a few steps, a classmate eagerly waved to him.

Han Shu immediately felt as if he had regained his rhythm. He nodded reservedly and walked over to sit at that table. The classmate who had called to him said, "Brother Han, why bother with them? You're an employee of Mo Lan Company now. Even municipal employees have to treat you politely. Some people can only shout at you now, but once they get outside, they'll understand the difference between you."

Han Shu nodded. Now that he had entered Mo Lan and had a future ahead of him, while Chen Chuan could only drift around the streets or lie on beds of nails performing tricks in the future, were they even comparable?

He put on a magnanimous act and said, "Actually, I do feel sorry for him. His grades used to be so good. All those years of studying were wasted. Forget it, let's not talk about it. It's rare for classmates to get together. As long as everyone is happy."

Since nearly everyone in the class had arrived by then, the class monitor came out to say a few polite words, and everyone began eating and drinking. The atmosphere gradually livened up again.

Once Ding Jiao saw that no one was watching them, he asked in a low voice, "Brother, are you really planning to learn boxing? You were lying to him, right?"

Chen Chuan patted his shoulder. "I do like learning boxing, but boxing isn't something you can only do at a boxing gym..."

As the two spoke, the noise around them gradually died down. A girl with delicate features walked in from outside. Her hair was tied in a single ponytail, and she wore a short blue-and-white patterned jacket with a front fastening, paired with a black ankle-length skirt. Behind her followed someone who looked like an attendant and two bodyguards.

She carried herself with great presence. The instant she walked in, the surrounding students fell silent unconsciously. Their eyes still occasionally flicked toward her. A few girls timidly greeted her, but she merely glanced at them and gave a slight nod in response.

Ding Jiao saw the girl too and gestured to Chen Chuan. "Hey, Meng Shu is here. Aren't you going to talk to her? I heard her family came from Central City. With the relationship between you two..."

Ignoring everyone else, the girl walked straight to Chen Chuan's table. Looking at him with cool eyes, she said, "Chen Chuan, I have something to say to you. Come out for a moment."

There was an unquestionable edge to her words. Ding Jiao immediately fell silent. Chen Chuan was the only one who remained entirely natural. "I'm talking with an old classmate. Why don't you move over a chair and sit with us?"

Ding Jiao looked around, then quickly stood up. "You two talk, you two talk..." Then he whispered to Chen Chuan, "I'll leave it to you."

The girl glanced to the side. The students sitting at the nearby tables hurriedly rose as well, each retreating far away.

The attendant behind her brought over an unused chair, carefully wiped it with a handkerchief, pushed it before the table, and made a respectful gesture inviting her to sit.

The girl walked over, smoothed her skirt behind her with both hands, and sat down primly.

Beneath the evening sky, where stars were about to emerge, the two sat facing one another. The table between them divided them evenly, like a symmetrical painting.

Driven by their own thoughts, everyone around them strained their ears, wanting to hear what they would say. Ding Jiao, who was not far away, leaned forward and nearly sprawled across his table, afraid of missing even half a word.

Chen Chuan picked up the drink and gestured toward the girl. "Want some?"

When she did not respond, he poured himself a glass instead. The girl looked at him and said, "I know you were admitted to Wu Yi University."

Wu Yi University? Wu University?

Chen Chuan had gotten into Wu University? The words immediately caused a stir among those around them. Ding Jiao froze for a second, then cried out, "Wu University? Damn! Brother Chuan, that's incredible!"

Han Shu whipped around, staring at Chen Chuan in shock and disbelief. More than anything, he hoped Chen Chuan would give the opposite answer the next moment.

Chen Chuan thought it over. The news must have come from the Patrol Bureau. Since she had already said it, he did not deny it. "Your information is accurate. I can't hide it from you."

Han Shu's expression stiffened somewhat. At the same time, excited discussion broke out among the students beside him. "So when Chen Chuan said he was learning boxing, he meant this kind of boxing. I knew it—his grades are so good. How could he go become some street punk?"

"Exactly. That's Wu University! He's really something. Our Class Four is going to look good this time."

"By the way, does anyone have Chen Chuan's home phone number?"

Learning boxing and learning boxing were not the same thing. Once one entered Wu Yi University, as long as one did reasonably well, the most common positions after graduation were high-ranking employees in the government and major companies. Setting everything else aside, their connections alone were beyond what ordinary people could compare with. Having a classmate who graduated from Wu University was also something to be proud of.

The girl paid no attention to the commotion outside. In a calm tone, she said, "That place doesn't suit you. Your future should be in corporate management, as a senior litigator, an agent, or a butler for a prominent family—work that uses your mind, not fighting and killing with others."

Chen Chuan slowly took a sip of soda. "I think it suits me quite well."

The girl looked at him. "You've always been outstanding. I'm not surprised in the least that you got into Wu Yi Academy, but there's no way you can pass Wu Yi's second examination. This experience will not only be of no help to your future, it will instead be a kind of harm."

Chen Chuan merely smiled.

The girl took out an exquisite calling card. "I'll return to Central City at the end of August. Bring this card and come find me then." After saying that, she stood up directly. Without greeting anyone else, she headed outside, followed at once by her attendant and two burly bodyguards.

Chen Chuan did not look at the calling card. Instead, he clasped both hands behind his head and leaned back comfortably. His gaze turned upward, toward the vast and boundless night sky that seemed to be embracing him. The noisy voices around him also seemed to drift farther away. And where no one could see, Second Self stood behind him. He smiled and said, "You don't understand the true pleasure in this."